Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems DSP8000 SE Upgrade

I have just received in the post a flyer regarding the new DSP SE Models. Whilst I was considering upgrading my 8000's and 7200HC I noted that the following are part of the SE spec but are not a part of the upgrade (as I understand it):

"All Drive Units clamped with machined rings to provide enhanced mechanical stability" and

"Featuring all new tweeter, mid range drivers, ..."

Given that the clamping and new mid range drivers do not appear to be a part of the upgrade is there any view as to how compromised an upgraded DSP8000 would be as against a true 8000SE particularly given the �11000 upgrade cost.

For that price I would of thought it would be exactly as a new 8000SE or otherwise just offer a trade in program?

Adam

Adam,

It's a price per pair of course for the upgrade not a single DSP.

The mechanical rings are not included (see discussions here why).
The tweeter is included (major part of the upgrade).
New electronics (exchange of the whole backplane).
Mid range is no change between SE and non SE model.

The official offer is here on the forum.
Maybe you can add your flyer here in the gallery to find out possible differences?

Robert

What would I rather buy, a SE or an upgraded non SE speaker?

I suppose it depends on price difference, but if for example a SE is 15-20% more than an upgraded model, I would go for the SE rather than wonder if my expensively upgraded model is actually as good as the new one.

My understanding is that the only difference between ANY upgraded (to SE) model and an original SE is the age of the cabinet and the mid and bass drivers. Tweeter and electronics are replaced in entirety.

If you can afford it, probably a great move for older 8k owners.

Edit: Oh, and the driver rings, of course.

So would you expect an SE to sound different to an SE upgrade? (And would you expect the SE to sound better?)

Cheers
Tom

Was there ever a confirmed story in relation to the clamp rings? I thought that there was a suggestion that new SEs had slimmer cabinet walls and could therefore take clamp rings whereas older (non-SE) speakers had thicker cabinets and so could not. If that is the case then perhaps upgraded SEs will perform just as well as new ones with clamp rings.

Tom

It would be good to be able to audition all three types, std, upgraded to SE and SE, not sure how many dealers would be able to offer that? my understanding is that on the 8KSE the bass and mid range drivers are the same but the driver basket size is slightly different to accommodate the clamp rings, so the question is how much do they add to the overall performance?

Russ

At the recent SE day at M Oxford I asked Chris Cope and Paul Webb the following question.
Of the total improvement/change of SE models sound, what percentage is down to the "Clamp Rings"?
The answer given was 5% to 7%.
So I rightly or wrongly I assume 93% is down to new electronics and tweeter.
IMO I do not think I will be able to hear the difference between upgraded to SE and new SE models as receptors are now at V66.5!
Cheers Hector

Do you have further info about that the PS (the two transformers and some capacitors behind the metal plate where the power line get connected) are included in the upgrade as that is also "electronic".

If so, it's a good opportunity to change also the mains voltages if that is needed.

My information from M about 3 years ago when I had to replace a bass chassis was that there are no replacement for the "old" bass chassis as the manufacturer does not produce that anymore and the "new" chassis does not it in the cabinet.

As that "old" bass chassis was a custom model from SEAS for M, I guess M uses now a standard SEAS chassis maybe just with tighter specs (or not).

So to mount a new chassis on the old cabinet, an adaption is needed.

So the last years ago M either changed the cabinet openings to use the new chassis without adaptors,
OR
they use the same cabinet (openings) and just add adaptors to fit the new chassis.

So the question is, have the .2 models or anniversary models the same chassis or not? As AFAIK both models have no metal rings so they have different chassis or a different cabinet.

As the new SE model use adapter/metal rings, I think M use still the same "old" cabinet and "adapt" the new bass driver.

So somebody have to look which bass driver is built in or have to measure the chassis or the headquarter gives an answer

Where one can source a pair those new tweeters?

From M as part of the upgrade programme...

I'm not sure just retrofitting these new tweeters will necessarily get you all the way in terms of improvement. Don't forget the SE firmware (when available) will be optimized for all the SE modifications, and not just the tweeters.